You can find that all the doable treks in Nepal do not require a hefty amount of budget. So, how much does the Langtang Trek Cost on average?
Langtang Valley situated 30 km north of Kathmandu is one of the closest trekking destinations from Kathmandu. You can do the Langtang valley trek in an estimated amount of USD 600- USD 1000 for an average of 7-12 days.
Even though it as a budget-friendly trek, the Langtang Trek Cost can vary depending on various factors like:
- The length of your trek
- The season you trek
- Number of trekkers
- Types of transportation and accommodation you choose
- The type of food and drinks you’re getting
- Extra services you’re getting etc.
The Langtang valley runs east to west and lies between snow-capped mountains soaring 6,000 to 7,000 m. The highest peak being Langtang Lirung at 7,245 m.
Langtang Valley is also popularly known as the valley of glaciers in Nepal. As it is home to several glaciers and massive snow-capped mountains.
It is an easy and short trek and anyone without much trekking experience can complete this trek. This trekking region is the closest to Kathmandu and hence is relatively cheaper than the other trekking regions.
The unique culture, breathtaking scenery, and stunning mountains on this trek is an amazing experience on its own.
The starting point of the Langtang Valley trek is Syabrubesi which only takes 7-8 hours to reach by road.
Now, allow us to get in details about the Langtang Trek Cost:
Transportation – Langtang Trek Cost
To trek in the Langtang Region, one must first get to Syabrubesi, the starting point of any trek in the Langtang Region. And the only two ways to get to Syabrubesi is to either go by road or trek to Syabrubesi via Sundarijal and Chisapani.
If you are traveling by road there are various options for you to choose from. Like the local buses, tourist buses, taxis/cabs, and private jeeps.
Local Buses
Distance: 80 km
Duration: 10 hours
A Local Bus from Kathmandu will take you to Syabrubesi in about 10 hours. It is not the most comfortable but it is the cheapest way of transportation to Syabrubesi.
The cost of a one-way ride to Syabrubesi will cost you about USD 3 (400 Nepali Rupees).
Tourist Buses
Tourist buses, on the other hand, are more expensive as compared to the Local Buses.
But, it is a more convenient way to travel as it offers clean and more comfortable seats and is not over-crowded like the local buses.
A one-way ride to Syabrubesi will cost you around USD 10-15 ( 1000-1500 Nepali Rupees).
Taxi (cabs)
A taxi or a cab one of the more expensive ways to travel in Nepal. A one-way ride to Syabrubesi will easily cost you USD 70-100 (7000-10000 Nepali Rupees).
Private Jeeps/Cars
If you have a group then hiring a private jeep or car is the perfect option for you. Although the Langtang Valley Trek Cost is on the expensive side, it won’t be much once you split it among the group.
A jeep can seat 7-8 people and will cost you USD 8-10 ( 8000-10000 Nepali Rupees).
And if you are planning to trek to Syabrubesi from Sundarijal, you can take a cab to Sundarijal from Thamel. It is a 30-45 minutes ride and will cost you around USD 6-10( 600-1000 Nepali Rupees).
Accommodation – Langtang Trek Cost
If you are trekking via Trekking Agency, they will take care of your accommodation and have everything ready on your arrival.
If you are traveling without any trekking agency then the cost of accommodation will be as below :
Accommodation in the Langtang Region does not have much variety. The most popular mode of trekking is tea house trekking.
The average Langtang Trek Cost of accommodation in the tea house is around USD 2-5( 200-500 Nepali Rupees). You can even get rooms for a cheaper rate during the off-seasons.
However, most of the teahouses might provide accommodation for free or charge you very less if you have meals in the same tea house.
The accommodations at the tea houses are very basic and on twin sharing basis, which means you will have to share your room with someone else. However, you can get a single room during off-seasons or depends on its availability during peak seasons.
Food and Drinks – Langtang Trek Cost
In Kathmandu, a meal will cost you approximately USD 5-10 in a standard restaurant.
You will find a large variety of options to choose from in the restaurants from vegetarian to non-vegetarian. There are also places for fine dining which can cost you about USD25-50.
But as you get to the Langtang Region, there will be a lesser variety of food available in the tea houses.
The traditional Dal-Bhat is the most popular menu on the trail. It is a healthy and wholesome dish made from organic products. It consists of rice served with curried vegetables, greens and a bowl of Dal( lentil soup).
There are other variations of food available like noodles, Mo: Mo (dumpling), fried rice, etc.
The Langtang Valley Trek cost of an average meal on the lower section of the trail is around USD 2-3.
However, the price increases as you ascend due to lack of proper transportation in the high altitude regions. The same meal in the higher altitudes could cost you about USD 4-6.
You can also add some light snacks to your packing list. Snacks like chocolates, energy bars, nuts etc can help you replenish your energy while trekking.
As for drinks, water is the best option though tea, coffee, soft drinks etc are easily available in the tea houses.
Staying hydrated is very essential for your body during the trek.
Water in Kathmandu can cost you from USD 0.25- 2 depending on the brand of choice. But on the trail, local bottled water will cost you USD 2-3.
You can also get hot water in the tea houses for about USD 1-2.
Since you need to stay hydrated on the trail, we suggest you bring water purification tablets. Or other methods of water purification like Steripen, LifeStraw etc are also available.
This will help you plan your budget wisely, also contributes to the environment.
On average the daily Lantang Trek Cost for food on the trail will be about USD15-20.
Guide and Porter – Lantang Trek Cost
Unlike other restricted regions, you can complete this trek even without a guide.
However, it is advisable for first-timers in this region to take a guide with you to avoid any problems.
Porters are not necessary if you are healthy and can carry all your luggage by yourself.
But trekking with a porter can reduce stress while trekking to a huge extent.
The average rate of a guide is USD 20-25 per day.
The average rate of a porter is USD 15-20 per day.
You can also arrange for a guide-porter, guide-porter is someone who does the work of both a guide and a porter.
The average cost of a guide-porter is USD 20-23 per day.
Please hire a licensed guide and check for the credentials before the trek to avoid any problems.
Permits – Lantang Trek Cost
For trekking in the Langtang Region, the government of Nepal has made it mandatory for foreigners to get these two permits.
TIMS Card
TIMS (Trekker’s Information management system) is compulsory for every foreigner trekking in Nepal.
It will cost you USD 20 (Nrs. 2000) per person.
Langtang National Park Entry Permit
Since a part of the trail goes through this National Park, you need to purchase this permit.
It will cost you USD 30 (Nrs. 3000) per person.
Shivapuri Conservation Area Permit
This permit is only required if you are trekking to Syabrubesi via Sundarijal and Chisapani.
You will need to pay a permit of USD 5 (Nrs. 500) for entering the Shivapuri Conservation Area.
You can easily purchase the TIMS card and the Langtang National Park Entry Permit at the Nepal Tourism Board at Kathmandu.
However, if you fail to purchase it at Kathmandu you can still purchase it on the trail but it will cost you a bit more money.
Locals do not require any of the above permits for trekking.
Insurance Cost
Insurance is an optional but very important requirement while trekking in any region in Nepal.
Since you will be trekking in high altitudes in the mountains, risks are always there. So it is best to get good travel insurance for your trek. Make sure it covers adventure activities over a certain altitude.
A 30-day insurance policy for Langtang Trek Costs you about USD 150. This should be done in your home country.
Miscellaneous Lantang Valley Trek Costs
Souvenirs
Would it even be fair if you don’t take souvenirs for your loved ones back home?
The locals in Nepal make lots of beautiful handmade things that will make a perfect unique gift!
Souvenirs can cost from a dollar to USD 300, or more.
Tipping
After you finish your trek, you can tip your guide and porter as gratitude for guiding and helping you throughout the trek.
Hot Water
Since there are no facilities such as hot showers in the remote and high altitude regions, you will have to get the water boiled for you to take a bath.
The cost of hot water will cost you around USD 2.
Charging
This might come as a shock to you, but yes you need to pay to get your electronic devices such as cameras, phones, etc charged in the tea houses.
The cost is about USD 2-5 for an hour of charging.
Tips for Saving Money on the Langtang Trek
- Avoid buying brand new trekking gears unless necessary. You can rent most of the gears at Kathmandu.
- Eat like a local on the trek. Sticking to Dal-Bhat since it is the cheapest and the most healthy.
- Bargain to get good rates on accommodation and also for guide and porters.
- Try hiring a guide-porter rather than spending money on the individual cost of guide and porter.
- Travel by local transportation which is the cheapest means of transport in Nepal.
Conclusion – Langtang Trek Cost
The Langtang Trek is the closest trek to Kathmandu and is easily accessible. You will experience an amazing blend of nature and culture in this trek.
Treks in Nepal are a lot affordable compared to a lot of other countries. But trekking doesn’t come cheap. Wise planning and proper budget management make trekking a lot more comfortable.
Special permits, high tech gears are all not required on this trek. And since it is also a moderate trek almost everyone can complete it.
Please feel free to contact us for more information or queries.
